G. Gorin. "Kill the Dragon" based on the play by E. Schwartz. Quotes

Used: photo of Grigory Gorin by Vitaly Plotnikov (left) and Yevgeny Shvarts from 24smi.org (right).

Article Editor: Mark Beygelzimer, PhD, systems analyst, head of the Trust but Verify project.

The plot in a few words

Knight Lancelot comes to a city that lives under the rule of the Dragon. The inhabitants of the city, in essence, are his slaves, without freedom, respect and dignity. But they do not protest, because everyone who protested (the gypsies) was exterminated by the Dragon. Lancelot defeated the Dragon and gave people freedom. But the city residents didn’t find it useful; people don’t know how to use it. People do not know how to be free, because to do this everyone needs to defeat the dragon within themselves.

Quotes
(The text of quotations is recorded from the video version of the film "To Kill the Dragon" (directed by Mark Zakharov, "Mosfilm", USSR, 1988. Translation of quotes into English was done by the editor of the article).

― My daughter Elsa. Chosen of the Dragon.
― Did she fall in love with the Dragon?
― No, this is not love, this is our tradition.

 
― The dragon has done a lot for our city. ... He delivered us from the gypsies. True, I have not seen a single gypsy in my life, but I remember, as I remember now, they were taught at school, that they were terrible people.

― As long as he is here, no other dragon will dare to touch us... The only way to get rid of a dragon is to have your own.

 
― I began to envy the slaves. They know everything in advance. They have strong beliefs. Probably because they have no choice.

― Dad always said: destroy the archives.

― I'm asking for a word!
― What?
― A word…
― He’s joking! He is joking! Mister Dragon, this is an obvious joke, this cannot be said seriously.
― Why do you need a word? What are you going to do with it?

— A little bit about yourself. General brain and physical insufficiency, split personality, constant delirium, erotomania. But at the same time, I am elected burgomaster of the free city for the 17th time in a row, for life.

— Children have been playing murder since childhood. Look at our toys. We teach them to kill from childhood.

— Do you want to give people freedom? What will they do with her? Why do they need it, do you think?

— These are the best gunsmiths in the city. Brave people, but afraid of everything.

— Won’t you tell me what’s going on up there? I've been seeing poorly lately.
— Today, everyone decides for himselve what he sees.

— What are you talking about? What are you doing? You have been free people for a year already! You are free people! Get up! You, you are slaves! You, you, you are not people, you are sheep, a herd of cattle. Well, understand, he is here, and now I will make everyone understand this and kill the dragon in themselves! In itself! Do you understand this?

 Editor's comment

This is a copy of our reality. All that remains is for everyone to answer the question: the one for whom they vote in elections “not out of love, but out of tradition,” who is he? The Dragon? Or the burgomaster of the “free” city, who is elected 17 times, for life? Does the dragon live within us? In the end, “ Today everyone decides for himself what he sees ”!

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